Majors appeared in court via video, and a new date has been set for November 29. If found guilty, the actor could face up to a year in prison.
Just over a year ago, Jonathan Majors was considered one of the most promising rising stars in Hollywood. The 34-year-old actor, who received his education at the Yale School of Drama, had spent the past few years building an audience through prestigious TV shows and films.
He starred in HBO's series "Lovecraft Country" and played the antagonist in the blockbuster "Creed III." Majors was set to become a popular celebrity after landing the role of the main supervillain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He received numerous enthusiastic reviews, including on NPR, where he was described as an "internet boyfriend."
However, everything changed on March 25 when Majors was arrested in New York City following an alleged assault on a woman during what the police called a "domestic dispute." She accused him of pulling her finger, twisting her arm, hitting her, and pushing her into a car with such force that she fell on the sidewalk. According to the police, the woman was treated at a hospital for minor injuries, and her name is not mentioned in court records.
Majors has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment (another charge of strangulation was later dropped). His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, has insisted on her client's innocence and suggested to NPR that the accusing party is actually at fault.
Reportedly, shortly after the charges were filed against Majors, both his talent agency and public relations firm severed ties with him. Since then, the actor's reputation has been tarnished by constant negative press about his off-screen behavior, both in his personal life and on set.
In June, Majors appeared at a Manhattan court hearing where his lawyer claimed to have "compelling evidence" that would help prove Majors was in the right. However, Judge Rachel Poli issued a sealed ruling, resulting in Chaudhry withdrawing the court documents challenging the prosecutor's accusations. Details of this ruling remain undisclosed, and the judge wished the actor "good luck" in scheduling the trial.
The incident has derailed Majors' prospects in Hollywood. He was removed from the U.S. Army marketing campaign shortly after it became public, and Marvel downplayed his involvement in several upcoming projects. His character, Kang the Conqueror, was set to become the main antagonist in the MCU's "Multiverse Saga." However, Majors is barely visible in the trailer for the second season of Marvel Studios' "Loki," pushing back the release dates of the next two Avengers films, "Kang's Dynasty" and "Secret Wars," in which Majors was supposed to have a prominent role.
There are clear parallels with another rising star whose career took a hit this summer. Ezra Miller's lead role in "The Flash" was expected to make the actor the centerpiece of a profitable DC franchise. However, analysts pointed to legal troubles and behind-the-scenes disputes as partial explanations for why the film, released in June, became one of the biggest box office flops of all time.